FAIRMONT– The Martin County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday held a quick meeting where they heard from Planning and Zoning Director, Pam Flitter, who provided the 2025 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) feedlot program year-end report.

“Every year we go through a review with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,” Flitter explained.

She provided the board with a letter from the agency that said the county satisfactorily met 11 out of 11 applicable, or 100 percent, of non-inspection minimum program requirements.

Flitter said that while 11 criteria didn’t seem like much, the inspection lasted nearly five hours.

She asked that the board approve the annual review of the feedlot program.

Commissioner Billeye Rabbe asked if any of the permitting requirements or processes have changed.

Flitter said that the county is only required to do 7 percent or 34.5 inspections, which is done on a 4 year rotation and that 76 were inspected.

“There’s actually a list that we look at… we have to look at their soil samples, their nitrogen, their phosphorous tests and then we have to make sure they meet all guidelines. If they don’t then they’re not compliant,” Flitter explained.

She added that they need to look at overall site conditions, which has always been part of the program.

Rabbe said she heard from someone in the county who said there was more paperwork this year, along with additional fees. Flitter said there were no additional fees and that they’ve been the same since 2013 or 2014. She did confirm that there was some additional paperwork required by the state.

Commissioner Kevin Kristenson asked if the soil tests were annually or every four years and Flitter said they’re done annually.

“Most producers do do that, but a lot of them don’t understand they need to have that paperwork out with them. The MPCA is going to do some rule changes now, too. It should be done in the next four years. We’ll see how it all plays out,” Flitter said.

The board accepted the 2025 feedlot review.

Moving to other matters, the board heard from Human Resources Director, Leigha Johnson, regarding recruitment for summer 2026 temporary positions.

“Annually we usually have a couple of summer positions that help us out,” Johnson explained.

This includes two summer water patrol deputies, who will each work 15 to 20 hours a week from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend at a recommended rate of $20 an hour, and a summer library intern who will work 35 hours a week also at a recommended rate of $20 an hour.

Commissioner Joe Loughmiller asked why the library intern isn’t done through the county/Minnesota Valley Action Council summer internship program

Johnson said they have done that in the past but that the county has been budgeting for its own intern the past few years.

Commissioner Jaime Bleess added that the summer reading program at the Martin County Library in Fairmont takes up a big part of the intern’s time.

“They’re involved in the programming and the prep and it chews up the hours quick. The intern in the summer is so valuable to that program,” Bleess said.

The board approved of recruitment to fill the intern positions. Johnson said there will be a full application process including multiple interviews for the positions.

In other business:

— Bel Lutterman, a senior at Fairmont High School, requested use of the courthouse for the senior class prom reception from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday May 2. The board approved of the request.

— The board approved of an amendment–setting a fee for general maintenance–to a contract with Faribault and Martin County Health and Human Services.

— The board approved the contract renewal between the city of Dunnell and the Martin County Sheriff’s Office

— The board approved the hire of Kristyn Nelson as a part-time library circulation technician starting March 5.